Many immigration agents Brisbane are asked about what a working holiday visa is. This article will help you understand this visa type better.
There are two types of Australia Working Holiday Visa, one for ‘young people and the other is ‘general’. This type of visa allows applicants to work in Australia while travelling to most countries. It is issued for twelve (12) months by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Applicants under this category must be between 18-30 years old at the time of application. However, young people aged 18-26 years can avail themselves with a youth mobility scheme visa to travel to selected countries like Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam but still has limitations when it comes to working in these places.
Who Can Apply?
Any citizen from Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region) of the People’s Republic of China, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden
Taiwan* – Applicants must be ordinary passport holders and must demonstrate that they have at least two years’ work experience in the past five years. The application also requires an invitation from an employer or certified employment agreement; under 19s are excluded. *Taiwan passport holders who are not nationals of Taiwan cannot apply for this visa.** If you’ve done farm work while holidaying on a Working Holiday Visa, you won’t be able to get a second one.
How Long Can You Stay?
There is no maximum limit on the length of time you can spend in Australia, although it cannot be longer than 12 months from the date the visa is granted. If you wish to stay longer than 12 months and do not hold a Resident Return Visa (subclass 155), you should apply well before your initial visa expires.
How Much Money Do You Need?
Applicants must show that they have enough funds to support themselves while in Australia. The amount required by applicants depends on their circumstances, such as where they will live and whether or not they plan to bring dependants (partner/children). Applicants applying under the Working Holiday Scheme program will need to show proof of having the equivalent of AU$5,000 to support their initial stay in Australia.
Additional Requirements Applicants will also need to submit all required documents for medical examination and police certificates (where applicable). In addition, you must have a valid passport or other travel documents when you apply. Some countries require applicants to be in good health and free from criminal convictions before issuing visas. If this is so, applicants will have to provide evidence of being clear from any illness by completing a medical certificate at the time of application. In addition, some countries require that applicants demonstrate that they are free from criminal convictions at the time of application. This may involve producing a Police Clearance Certificate containing details on criminal offences, arrests and/or convictions. Finally, applicants will need to show satisfactory evidence of support and/or sufficient funds for their return or onward fare when they apply. Assurance from a travel agent would not be accepted as proof of financial aid.
How Do You Apply?
This visa allows applicants to submit their applications online through the DIBP website. You must pay your visa fee by credit card if you are applying online. Usually, once an online application has been submitted, it cannot be changed unless a system fails. It has to be resubmitted to explain what went wrong and why the application had to be changed. In this instance, as long as there was no fault on the applicant, DIBP, or the software provider, there should be no penalty for this. It is important to note that any changes made to an online application will incur a further fee.
Where Can You Apply?
As mentioned earlier in this article, all Working Holiday Visa applications must be submitted online unless you hold a: Brunei – Darussalam passport and live in Singapore; or Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region) of the People’s Republic of China passport and live in Hong Kong; or Macao (Special Administrative Region) of the People’s Republic of China passport and live in Macao; or Taiwan passport and live in Taiwan. In such cases, visa applicants may submit their applications through the DIBP office in their country of residence.
